PRODUCT SUPPORT
more capability available for the War- fighter. Availability leads to greater warfighting readiness and lethality that creates greater confidence and victory on the battlefield. DELUCA, a retired U.S. Army colonel, has extensive experience in the Department of War in command, leadership, and staff posi- tions. His current assignment includes the Specialty Engineering disciplines of Reliabil- ity and Maintainability, Manufacturing and Quality, Human Systems Integration, System Safety, and Value Engineering. Within the Office of the Secretary of War, he has directed systems engineering and developmental test and evaluation analysis teams for Space, Land Warfare, and other programs. He holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy, an M.S. from The George Washington Univer- sity, as well as prior Level III certifications from the Warfighting Acquisition University in Program Management, Systems Engineering, and Test and Evaluation. The author can be contacted at ralph.c.deluca.civ@mail.mil . The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the Department of War. Reproduction or reposting of articles from Defense Acquisition magazine should credit the authors and the magazine.
Airmen assigned to the 31st Air Task Force coordinate the defense of a simulated main operating base during a field training exercise at Ft. Bliss, Texas, Dec. 12, 2025. During the FTX’s 24-hour capstone event, 31 ATF employed mobile ad hoc networking technology, which generated self-perpetuating radio and data nodes co- located with small, multi-functional teams, enabling a shared common operating picture and improved aware- ness of the friendly order of battle. Source: U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Daniel White
planning. Enhanced reliability also reduces the frequency and cost of support operations. VE optimizes supply chain and inventory management, promoting standardization and simplification, which can lead to reduced variety in parts and tools. This minimizes inven - tory requirements, streamlines pro - curement, and improves supply chain responsiveness. In turn, this reduces the logistics burden and supports more agile and efficient operations. One of the most powerful as - pects of VE is its application early in the design process where changes are less costly and more impact - ful. Early VE involvement ensures that ILS considerations are embed - ded from the beginning, leading to inherently more supportable and cost-effective systems. VE involves cross-functional teams, including logisticians, engi - neers, and end users to assess and prioritize functions. This collabora - tive approach ensures that the final system design aligns with real-world operational needs and logistical ca - pabilities, improving usability and mission success. VE supports the ILS goal of deliv - ering a sustainable system over its
entire life by identifying value-driven improvements that align with per - formance, cost, and schedule re - quirements. It enhances ILS by pro - moting cost-effective, supportable, and sustainable system designs. It reduces life-cycle costs, increases system reliability, and improves overall logistics efficiency. When in - tegrated early and applied consis - tently, VE becomes a powerful tool in achieving ILS objectives and en - suring long-term operational readi - ness. More information on VE can be found at https://www.cto.mil/sea/ve/ and the Warfighting Acquisition Univer - sity’s Acquisition Knowledge Matrix https://www.dau.edu/acquisition-knowledge- matrix?field_acquisition_category_target_id= 185162&page=0 . Readiness as a Result Programs practice R&M, M&Q, HSI, System Safety, and VE disciplines throughout a product life cycle, and multidisciplinary activities work together to enhance program out - comes. The PSM is a key partner in these activities, and benefits from the outcomes that have an impact on ILS planning and execution. Ultimately, the materiel resulting from these mul - tidisciplinary activities contributes to
Related Resources
– (CLE 001) Value Engineering (Online Training Course) – (CLE 301) Reliability and Maintainability (Online Training Course) – (CME 130) Surveillance Implications of Manufacturing and Subcontractor Management (Online Training Course) – (ENG 0620) Human Systems Integration (HSI) (Online Training Course)
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